Contracting mandrel



Abril 281 1,942-

G. oNExL ET AL y 2,280,970

CONTRACTING MNDREL Filed Oct. 24, 1940 Y 2 SheeLS-SheI l April 28; 1942-J. G. o'NEll. ETAL GONTRCTING MANDREL Filed 001;. 24, 1940 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr.` 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECONTRACTING MANDREL John G. ONeil, Faribault, and Lawrence G. Zesbaugh,Minneapolis, Minn.; said Zesbaugh assig-nor to `said GNeil y Applicationoctober 24, 1940, serial No. 362,553

` (ci. 24e- 72) 7 Claims.

`This invention relates to a `mandrel or a supporting member upon whichflexible material maybe wound and while said `mandrel may have variousapplications,` it particularly is designed for use in the formation of acontainer made from flexible material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mandrel or supportingmember upon which ilexiblematerial such as paper may be Wound and whichis constructed and arranged to be moved so that the diameter of itsperiphery is reduced to facilitate the removal of the material Woundthereon.

It isa further object of the invention to provide a mandrel comprising aplurality of segments forming a substantially continuous periphery buthaving longitudinal spaces therebetween and means whereby the diameterof said periphery may be reduced by a longitudinal movement of saidsegments.

. Itis another object of the invention to provide such a mandrel asabove set forth in which the said segments are held in normal positionby resilient means.

It is also an object of the invention t0 provide a` mandrel of simpleand efncient construction which can be readily attached to anddetachedfrom a carrying spindle; which mandrel may have either a cylindrical orlpolygonal periphery which may be readily reduced in diameter so thatthe material on the mandrel may be easily removed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention `Will be fully`set forth in the following description made in connection with theaccomof Fig. 1 asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section through a removing sleeve; Fig.'7 is a View in end elevation as seen from theright of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are partial views similar to Fig. 1 illustrating theposition of the material on the mandrel and the removal thereof by thesleeve shown in Fig. 6. i

Referring to the drawings, 4a mandrel or supporting member is showncomprising a central carrying` member or core 2li. While this membermight take various forms, in the embodimentof the invention illustratedit is shown as a cylindrical shell having one end firmly secured to andmounted on a plug2l. Plug 2l is shown as reduced in diameter to receiveshell 20 and provided with a shoulder against which the end of shell 2Bengages. and threaded to receive or have screwed thereinto the threadedend 22a of a. carrying spindle 22. Spindle 22 is shown as having asupporting member 23 carried in a turret 24, `a portion only of which isshown. Plug 2l is exteriorly threaded and a supporting member 25 isinteriorly threaded to be mounted on plug 2l. Member 25 can thus bemoved longitudinally of member 2| by being rotated thereon. A lockingnut 25e is threaded in member 25 and engages member 2 I, the same havingslots 25d at its inner side adapted to receive a tool for turning thesame. Member 25 has a periphery 25a which is tapered or which has atapered or truste-conical surface; A plurality of segments 26 areprovided, the end portions 26a of which are bent outwardly slight# lyand are supported upon the tapered surface 25a. The segments 26 areconstructed and arranged to form a substantially continuous peripherybut are spaced longitudinally.` While the `number of segments may bevaried, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated three of suchsegments 26 are shown and these have longitudinal edges which areslightly spaced as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The other ends of segments 26have portions 28h which are offset inwardly a short distance. These endportions 2Gb are supported upon the periphery of ,a supporting member orcollar 2l interiorly threaded to be screwed on the threaded periphery ofshell 2D. Said member 21 has a periphery which is tapered or offrusto-conical form and this periphery tapers in the same direction assurface 25a of member 25. Member 25 is provided with a threaded portion25h and a holding sleeve 28 has its end interiorly threaded to bescrewed on member 25. Sleeve 28 has a lip or flange 28a extendinginwardly and Which engages the segments 26 for holding the same on thesupporting member 25. A ring 29 is mounted on the end of shell 20 andhas a flaring or frusta-conical end 29a, the interior of which has afrusto-conical Plug 2| is interiorly bored` which it can be turned.Collar 3G forms in effect a jamb or lock nut for member 2l. Acompression coiled spring 3l surrounds shell 2i), bearing at one endagainst collar 3G andlbearingV at its other end against a collar orwasherl which in turn engages cylindricalmembersor studs-33 projectinginwardly from segments 26 respectively by having reduced portionsriveted in said segments. l

In Fig. 6 a shell or sleeve 35 is shown and the same has formed thereina plurality of circumferentiallyl spaced slits or kerfs 36a Whichextendthroughoutthe greater portion of the length of member 36. Member 33 isslightly flared at one endliib.

In operation, the mandrel is` brought'into the proper positionbymovement of turret 24 and it has wound thereon one or more layers ofmaterial 38. In -practice this material hasbeen a: heavy glazed paperand a plurality of layers have been woundA onV the mandrel. After thepaper has thus been wound on` the. mandrel it severed and gluedr so thatthere is a shell formed' which tightly embraces the mandrel. While thecontainer shell might be removed in various ways, in practice the sleeve36 has been used. This sleeve will have thereon a circular band 3ly ofresilientmaterial so disposed as to give the desired tension on theportions between thekerfs 36a.. The material of the member 3'6 is, ofcourse, resilient.. The member 3B is carried on a suitable carrier andat the proper time is movedlongitudinally over the container shell 33.It is arranged to fit thevshell tightly and to be moved thereover withsome friction. It will thus have considerable grip on the shell and whenit is moved outwardly .toward the end of the mandrel it grips .containershell 38 which is, of course, tightly gripping the segments 28.Container shell 38 is moved outwardly and-it moves with it the segments26. This longitudinal movement of segments 26 causes the end portionsthereof to move downwardly or inwardly along the tapered surfaces ofmembers 25 and 2l and the diameter of the periphery formed by segments26 is .thus reduced. The segments come L substantially into contact anddue to the reduced diameter of said periphery container shell 38 isreleased from the segments and moves freely off. of the mandrel withmember 35. The movement of segments 25 .takes place against the pressureof spring 3| which is slightly compressed in this action. Spring 3l actsto hold the sleeves 26 in their normal position. The periphery of themandrel is thus easily and quickly reduced as the container shell woundthereon is removed. As soon as the shell is removed spring 3l movessegments 2'6 back to their normal position and the mandrel is ready tohave another container shell wound thereon.

. From the above description it will be seen that we have provided avery simple and efficient mandrel and one especially useful in themaking of a container from flexible material. The parts, of the mandrelare easily made and assembledand itl can bev very accurately adjusted.`It

is arranged so that it can be quickly placed on and removed from itssupporting spindle. The device has been amply demonstrated in actualpractice and found to be very successful and efcient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement andproportions of, the parts, withoutdeparting from thezscope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts l 1.v A.collapsible-mandrel having a substantially` continuous periphery adaptedto have a sheet of flexible material Wound thereon and comprising aplurality'ofslightly longitudinally separated segments, a central core,spaced supporting means for and disposed at the ends of said segmentsmounted on and relatively adjustable on said core, said supporti-ng.means having conical surfaces tapered in the same .directionandresilient means surrounding said core holding said segments inposition on saidrsupporting means whereby said segments may be movedlongitudinally and will move on-saidtapered surfaces to reduce thediameter of the periphery thereof.

2. A collapsible mandrel having in combination, a pair of spacedsupporting members, said members having con-ical surfaces both taperingin diameter in the same direction, a member on which said supportingmembers are carried, a plurality of segments having their end portionscarried onsaid tapering surfaces, said segments having comparativelysmall thickness and forming a substantially continuous .periphery butbeing slightly separated longitudinally, annular members overlying theends` of said segments for retaining them on said supporting members andresilient means between. said supporting members normally holding saidsegments in position whereby said segments may be moved against thepressure of said resilient means and move l on said tapering surfaces toreduce the diameter of the periphery thereof.

3. A collapsible. mandrel comprising acentral member adapted to beattached to a carrying spindle and comprising a cylindrical plug andtubular core carried thereby, spaced supporting members movably'mountedupon said plug and core respectively, the same having peripheriestapering in the same direction, a plurality of segments of. thinmaterial having their end portions supported upon said taperingsurfaces, spaced from said core andhaving spaced longitudinal edges,said segments forming a periphery'adapted to have a flexible sheet woundthereon, members overlying the ends of said segments for holding thesamev on said supporting members and resilient means surrounding andsupported on said core between said supporting members acting ron saidsegments normally holding the same in longitudinal position whereby saidsegments may be moved longitudinally againsty the pressure of saidresilientmeans to move on said tapered surfaces to reduce the diameterof the periphery thereof'.

4. A collapsible mandrel having in combination, a central carryingmember having an end portion adapted to be attachedto a spindleand acore carried by and projecting from said end portion, spaced supportingmembers mounted 'on said end member'and core respectively, the samehaving peripheral surfaces-tapering in the same direction, a pluralityof longitudinally spaced segments having their end portions carried onsaid tapered surfaces and spaced from said core, rings for holding saidend portions on said peripheries, a spring surrounding and supported onsaid core, means on said carrying member against which one end of saidspring engages and means carried by said segments acted on by the otherend of said spring whereby said spring acts to hold said segments innormal position and said segments may be moved longitudinally to move onsaid tapered peripheries and reduce the diameter of the peripherythereof.

5. A collapsible mandrel having in combination, a core member adapted tobe attached to a supporting spindle, conical members at the ends of saidcore member having their surfaces tapering in the same direction, ashell of comparatively thin material formed of a plurality of slightlyspaced longitudinally divided segments supported at their ends on saidconical surfaces, a coil spring surrounding said core between saidsupporting members and members at the inner sides of said segments actedon by said spring to move said segments longitudinally.

6. A collapsible mandrel having in combination, a central member,supporting members at .the ends of said central member having conicalsurfaces, said surfaces tapering in the same direction, a shell formedof slightly spaced longitudinally divided segments supported at theirends on said conical surfaces and spaced from said central member, ringssurrounding the ends of said segments respectively for holding the sameon said surfaces, members secured to the inner sides of said segmentsand disposed between the same and said central member, a springsurrounding said central member and actuating on said last mentionedmembers to move said segments longitudinally on said surfaces, one ofsaid supporting members being threaded on said central member forlongitudinal adjustment thereon.

'7. The structure set forth in claim 6, a lock member for said lastmentioned supporting member threaded on said central member, said springhaving one end engaging said lool: member.

JOHN G. ONEIL. LAWRENCE G. ZESBAUGH.

